Password Protection: Time to take it S3r1ou5ly!

We are all aware of the role a password plays in data access security. They function in the same way a physical padlock does. They prevent unauthorized access. We are also fully aware that passwords should be complex and near-on impossible to crack.

However, the percentage of people that actually take this advice on board is startling. In a recent study by SplashData, the two most commonly used passwords were ‘qwerty’ and ‘123456’. If you are guilty of this, then please read on.

In today’s article, we will provide some reasons that highlight the dangers of a weak password, and also offer advice on how to construct the perfect password. By perfect, we mean something that a snooper will not crack/ guess, but also easy enough for a user to remember without having to write it down on paper (a big no-no).

Password Don’ts:

1) If someone is trying to unlawfully log into your account, the first few attempts they may try will probably be the ones mentioned above (qwerty, 123456 etc). If you have used one of these passwords, the attacker can access your data without even having to know the slightest detail about you.

2) Some users may base their password on something that is personal/ memorable to them such as a loved one’s name, or a sports team. If the attacker knows you personally, they will be in a strong position to try and crack your password if this is the case.

3) Do not use a dictionary word (any word found in the English dictionary). These types of passwords can be subject to a Brute Force Attack. This attack is where a piece of software/ program will systematically try every word in the dictionary as the password. Therefore, if a dictionary word has been used, it may only be a matter of time until it gets cracked.

4) It may sound obvious, but never disclose your password with anyone, not even a family member. They may be completely trustworthy, however if they have trouble remembering your password they may end up writing in down somewhere (which leads us onto the final Don’t).

5) Never, ever write down a password!

Password Do’s:

1) Regularly change your password. Often in big corporate companies there will be a policy where passwords must be changed every 3 months. 3 months is a suitable password life length.

2) Use a variety of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters ($, %, & etc).

3) Its recommended to make it as complex as possible. However, it is vital that you choose something that is memorable enough that you don’t need to write it down.

4) A useful tip is to start with a name of a song, or a title of a movie/ book and turn it into an acronym. For example, take ‘The Girl on the Train’ and convert it to ‘TGOTT’. Convert the ‘O’ to a zero and then add some special characters: &TG0T3T$

5) Make sure your password isn’t too short; a general rule of thumb is to use at least 8 characters minimum.

Passwords are just part of a complete data protection and security setup. If you have any worries about any aspect of your current security plan, you can reach us by emailing security@bangitsolutions.comor by calling 1300 770035.

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